Hats & Skincare
Think your skincare’s on fleek? Not unless you regularly wear hats!
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to care for your skin is to simply toss a hat on your head on your way out the door. Don’t just take our word for it – the Skin Cancer Foundation backs us up! Consider this sobering fact: about 90% of all skin cancers consist of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, both of which often appear on the head and neck. Hats not only look great but also help protect your scalp, ears, and neck – some of the most missed areas when applying sunscreen – in addition to your face.
So in addition to cleansing, moisturizing, and applying sunscreen, wearing a hat daily is a stylish and simple way to care for your skin.
Not all hats are created equal!
Ok, so we got your attention but what should you look for in a sun-safe hat style? The two most important considerations when selecting a sun-safe hat style are:
- Brim Width
- Material & Knit
Brim Width
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a brim width of at least 3 inches (7.62 cm) in order to properly shade your scalp, face, ears, neck, upper back, and shoulders. The wider the better!
Material & Knit
Look for tightly woven materials such as fabric or fine-woven straw. These protect against UV radiation better than loose or open weave fabric and materials that let UV rays through. A good rule of thumb is to hold the hat up to the light – if you can see through the material, UV rays can easily penetrate through to your skin.
Go for dark or brightly colored fabric and materials. Unlike lighter shades, dark or bright colors absorb UV rays rather than allowing them through, providing better protection.
For superior protection, look for hat styles crafted specifically with sun protection in mind, often featuring Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) ratings between 15 to 50+ (see chart below).
|
UPF Rating |
UV Ray Blockage |
Protection Level |
|
15 - 20 |
93.3% – 95.9% |
Good |
|
25 - 40 |
96% – 97.4% |
Very Good |
|
50+ |
98% + |
Excellent |
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends protective clothing (including hats!) with a minimum rating of UPF 50 for the best protection.
UPF vs SPF – What’s the difference?
UPF is a measurement of the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate a fabric or material and reach your skin. SPF (Solar Protection Factor), on the other hand, is used to determine how much time it takes for skin to redden. In other words, if unprotected you burn after 20 minutes, an SPF 15 sunscreen should protect your skin 15 times longer, when used correctly.
Hats ARE Skincare
Now that we’ve made our case, we hope you agree that hats are indeed an integral part of skincare. So, if you’re looking for a super easy way to up your daily skincare routine (and style) – simply pop on a hat!
Get started on your hat search – shop UPF-rated Women’s Sun Protection Hats or Men’s Sun Protection Hats today!